Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
Twelve individuals have been charged in a superseding indictment for their alleged involvement in an international conspiracy spanning alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering. The operation is accused of illegally bringing thousands of Cuban nationals into the United States for significant financial gain, exploiting immigration processes through fraudulent visa applications and the laundering of millions of dollars.
Allegations of a Sophisticated Smuggling Operation
According to court documents, the defendants operated a prolific alien smuggling organization (ASO) from January 2021 through June 2025. This enterprise allegedly facilitated the unlawful entry of Cuban nationals by preparing fraudulent visa applications and laundering over $18 million in payments.
The operation promoted bogus visa services online, falsely claiming Cuban nationals could secure U.S. entry through fabricated European citizenship. They allegedly filed hundreds of fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, utilizing fake addresses and fabricated documents.
Recruitment and Financial Scale
The ASO extensively used social media and encrypted messaging platforms, including a WhatsApp group titled “TRÁMITE DE ESTA Y VISA DE TURISMO A USA PARA CIUDADANOS ESPAÑOLES” (Processing of ESTA and tourist Visas to the USA for Spanish citizens). Promotional videos reportedly showcased stacks of passports, airline tickets, and visa approvals to attract clients.
What began as a smaller scheme reportedly grew into a commercial enterprise. Defendants allegedly charged clients between $1,500 and $40,000, sometimes chartering private planes for groups of individuals. Records indicate over $2.5 million was spent on flights, and more than $7 million was funneled through payment applications like Zelle.
Exploitation of Vulnerable Individuals
The indictment also details the alleged smuggling of unaccompanied minors. In one instance, a teenage girl was reportedly instructed to pose as the lifelong friend of an unrelated adult man when crossing the border, highlighting the deceptive tactics used by the organization.
The defendants allegedly operated a sham immigration business named ASESORIA Y SERVICIOS MIGRATORIOS LLC. This company purportedly promised asylum filings, work permits, and residency applications, but in practice, it allegedly churned out boilerplate asylum claims without clients’ knowledge or consent and blocked their access to USCIS online accounts.
ASESORIA marketed its services on Instagram with flashy advertisements for immigration services, even as it simultaneously posted videos of individuals being smuggled into the country.
Department of Justice Response
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the Department of Justice’s aggressive stance against human smuggling, stating, “We will not rest until those who profit from the suffering of vulnerable people — including many unaccompanied children — face severe, comprehensive justice.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti highlighted that the organization posed as a legitimate immigration service, using social media and false legal filings to perpetuate their fraud. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida affirmed the commitment to protecting national borders through interagency coordination.
Acting Director Todd M. Lyons of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) noted that the indictment exposes a multi-year conspiracy that preyed on vulnerable individuals and weakened public trust in the immigration system. Chief Jeffrey J. Dinise of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Miami Sector reiterated the message that the United States is closed to illegal immigration and those who attempt it will face consequences.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that the investigation exposed a multi-national, multi-year, multimillion-dollar criminal conspiracy that attempted to undermine the immigration system. He warned that criminals seeking to exploit the system would be found, their schemes shut down, and they would face justice.
Operation Take Back America
The investigation and superseding indictment were coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) as part of Operation Take Back America. This nationwide initiative aims to combat illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime, streamlining efforts with Project Safe Neighborhoods.
An indictment contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
